Discoverglamping.com interview with Robin and Victoria at Wonderfully Wild

Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?

We are Robin and Victoria Roberts, Island dwellers all our lives, Robin’s family have been on the farm here at Wonderfully Wild for nearly 100 years. Robin (50) , me (41) live on the farm with our two children Llewelyn and Cynan who are both still in primary school, Pip our faithful springer spaniel and Madoc our not so faithful springer spaniel!

Robin works full time at home and divides his time between the farm side of things and Wonderfully Wild. I work part time at Bangor University (the university which I graduated from many moons ago in tourism and business) fitting in hours between school runs and changeover days.

Have you always wanted to run a glamping site? How did you get interested in it?

We had been looking for some time at ways of diversifying the farm and so many people kept on telling us what an amazingly beautiful place we lived in, the answer was staring us in the face. So we had a look at what the market was lacking in this region and saw that no one was offering accommodation of the safari tent style and so that’s what we went for.

We immediately fell in love with the style of the tents, the flexibility and space they can offer guests so we took the plunge and put in for planning and here we are today. It’s taken nearly two years for our idea to be realised and open for business this May but it’s been worth it as we are very proud with what we have achieved here at Wonderfully wild.

What made you pick the location for your glamping site?

Wonderfully Wild is located on a 10 acre field on our farm, its situated away from the farm and other buildings and has the best views on Anglesey looking out towards the Snowdonia mountain range.

We chose that particular field as it offered the best of everything from the views, accessibility off a very quiet country road, it’s entirely surrounded by land that we farm and the most picturesque river runs through the site.

Do you get a wide range of different people from different walks of life or are there certain types of guests who come to stay at your site?

Anyone from 0 to 100 years of age would get something out of visiting this place! With each lodge sleeping up to six persons the majority of our bookings are families or groups of people who all share a love of the outside and maybe want to go off grid for a few days but without slumming it!

When guests stay, do they usually cook on site or do you find a lot like to go exploring and eat out at local places?

Each of our lodges has a wood burning range that is used for heating and cooking, an excellent little oven that you could do a Sunday roast in, however most people on holiday either eat out locally or BBQ as its quick and easy.

Being just a mile and half away from the seaside town of Beaumris guests have the good fortune to be spoilt with a great range of places to eat from the numerous hotels, pubs and cafes to the best ice cream shop in the UK, no word of a lie the Red boat ice cream parlour is amazing.

If there was one activity to participate in, landmark, or place of interest that you would recommend guests visit while staying at your site, what would it be and why?

Wales, North Wales and Anglesey are one big playground, there is so much to do and the region has responded well to the demands from the tourist. From zip wires, kayaking, climbing Snowdon, mountain biking or sailing there is something to suit everyone. Or if you prefer the quieter things in life then Anglesey have the most amazing beaches and so many of them that on some you have them all to yourself.

To recommend one thing is hard but I would say ‘get out on the water’ whether it’s a boat trip to see the puffins or hiring a kayak, it’s great to be out on the water to see the land from a different perspective.

What do you think sets your glamping site apart from others?

We are wonderful at what we do, we have put a lot of time energy and love into this project and we are very proud of it and we genuinely want to share this place with others so that they can fall in love with Anglesey too.

What has been the most memorable moment that has happened on your glamping site?

Most memorable for me so far was our first guest’s reaction when she saw the lodge, she got out of her car and jumped up and down on the spot clapping her hands with glee, it made me realise that we had got it right and it had been worth it.

Do you provide any services/entertainment/activities onsite or elsewhere for your guests?

Guests are free to roam through the fields we have put aside for wonderfully Wild and we want them to enjoy the land in an unstructured way. There is an office/shop on site that offers advice on activities, a book and games depository and a place to buy essential items.

What plans (if any) do you have for your glamping site in the future?

We currently have four lodges, we have planning for a few more in another field on the farm, so that will be the next development but I’ve got my sights set on a treehouse!